I Samuelis 26

1 et venerunt Ziphei ad Saul in Gabaa dicentes ecce David absconditus est in colle Achilae quae est ex adverso solitudinis

One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”

2 et surrexit Saul et descendit in desertum Ziph et cum eo tria milia virorum de electis Israhel ut quaereret David in deserto Ziph

So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.

3 et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Achilae quae erat ex adverso solitudinis in via David autem habitabat in deserto videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum

Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,

4 misit exploratores et didicit quod venisset certissime

he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.

5 et surrexit David et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul cumque vidisset locum in quo dormiebat Saul et Abner filius Ner princeps militiae eius Saulem dormientem in tentorio et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius

Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.

6 ait David ad Ahimelech Cettheum et Abisai filium Sarviae fratrem Ioab dicens quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra dixitque Abisai ego descendam tecum

David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”

7 venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius

So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.

8 dixitque Abisai ad David conclusit Deus hodie inimicum tuum in manus tuas nunc ergo perfodiam eum lancea in terra semel et secundo opus non erit

Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”

9 et dixit David ad Abisai ne interficias eum quis enim extendit manum suam in christum Domini et innocens erit

But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.

10 et dixit David vivit Dominus quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur aut in proelium descendens perierit

Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.

11 propitius mihi sit Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini nunc igitur tolle hastam quae est ad caput eius et scyphum aquae et abeamus

But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”

12 tulit ergo David hastam et scyphum aquae qui erat ad caput Saul et abierunt et non erat quisquam qui videret et intellegeret et vigilaret sed omnes dormiebant quia sopor Domini inruerat super eos

So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.

13 cumque transisset David ex adverso et stetisset in vertice montis de longe et esset grande intervallum inter eos

David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.

14 clamavit David ad populum et ad Abner filium Ner dicens nonne respondebis Abner et respondens Abner ait quis es tu qui clamas et inquietas regem

Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”

15 et ait David ad Abner numquid non vir tu es et quis alius similis tui in Israhel quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem dominum tuum

David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.

16 non est bonum hoc quod fecisti vivit Dominus quoniam filii mortis estis vos qui non custodistis dominum vestrum christum Domini nunc ergo vide ubi sit hasta regis et ubi scyphus aquae qui erat ad caput eius

You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”

17 cognovit autem Saul vocem David et dixit num vox tua est haec fili mi David et David vox mea domine mi rex

[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”

18 et ait quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum quid feci aut quod est in manu mea malum

Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?

19 nunc ergo audi oro domine mi rex verba servi tui si Dominus incitat te adversum me odoretur sacrificium si autem filii hominum maledicti sunt in conspectu Domini qui eiecerunt me hodie ut non habitem in hereditate Domini dicentes vade servi diis alienis

Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’

20 et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terra coram Domino quia egressus est rex Israhel ut quaerat pulicem unum sicut persequitur perdix in montibus

Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”

21 et ait Saul peccavi revertere fili mi David nequaquam enim ultra male tibi faciam eo quod pretiosa fuerit anima mea in oculis tuis hodie apparet quod stulte egerim et ignoraverim multa nimis

Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”

22 et respondens David ait ecce hasta regis transeat unus de pueris et tollat eam

David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.

23 Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum iustitiam suam et fidem tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manu mea et nolui levare manum meam in christum Domini

Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.

24 et sicuti magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini et liberet me de omni angustia

Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”

25 ait ergo Saul ad David benedictus tu fili mi David et quidem faciens facies et potens poteris abiit autem David in viam suam et Saul reversus est in locum suum

Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.